"Backing Down"? Don't Think So...

...at least, not with this as my inspiration. ;)

I'm at war with the world and they
Try to pull me into the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I'm slippin' from your arms
It's getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last...

I'm awake, I'm alive,
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive...

I'm at war with the world 'cause I
Ain't never gonna sell my soul
I've already made up my mind
No matter what, I can't be bought or sold
When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again...

I'm awake, I'm alive,
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive...

Bridge:
Waking up Waking up, Waking up Waking up
Waking up Waking up, Waking up Waking up
In the dark, I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you!

I'm awake, I'm alive,
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive...

          awake and alive by skillet

Skillet isn't normally my inspiration band--more like my "turn it up sing it loud wake me up" band. While this song is a "turn it up sing it loud wake me up" song, it's also a "turn it up listen to words be moved" song.

Take a look at these words again:

I'll stand my ground and never back down.

I'm not going to build a Bible study around a Skillet song (or will I? You never know! *winks*), but I needed the wake-up call. I have not been standing my ground in regard to what I believe in. Even in church, I don't comment when others swear profusely, make crude or cutting remarks, or act immodestly. I just kind of half-laugh while rolling my eyes--but I don't say anything.

I don't defend those who are getting beat up on. I don't reach out to the kid who is sitting alone.

After all, it's my reputation I'm trying to protect. A "cool", "popular" person wouldn't be defending and reaching out to the "un-cool," "un-popular" people. (I put those words in quotations because God doesn't believe in a "cool" or "un-cool" person...though, unfortunately, I do. But, believe me, that's gonna change.)

Nuh-uh. Not a good attitude.

One of the things I have been praying most hard about this week is that God would give me unconditional love. Love for everyone--not just my friends.

This trait is the one I love most about God--that, and his grace (after which I was named after... "Rebekah Grace," my full name). God has unconditional love: for the poor, for the broken, and for the "un-cool", as well as for the rich, for the righteous, and for the supposedly "cool". To truly be after His Spirit, I must strive after this unconditional love myself.

Anyways--just thought I'd share the lyrics and my thoughts with you. :)

Ocean Wide, by the Afters

I really love this song *wipe away tear* It's so...wonderful. It's the second song on my play list, so if you haven't heard it, go listen to it, it's amazing.

Look outside

It's already light and the stars ran away with the night

Things we're said, words that we'll try forget,

it's so hard to admit

I know we've made mistakes

I see through all the tears but that's what got us here

[Chorus:]

If love is an ocean wide

We'll swim in the tears we cry

They'll see us through to the other side

We're gonna make it

When love is a raging sea

You can hold on to me

We'll find a way tonight

Love is an ocean wide

I'll stay right here

It's where I'll always belong

Tied with your arms

Days like this, I wish the sun wouldn't set

I don't want to forget

What made us feel this way

You see through all my fears

And that's what got us here

[Chorus]

If love is an ocean wide
We'll swim in the tears we cry
They'll see us through to the other side
We're gonna make it
When love is a raging sea
You can hold on to me
We'll find a way tonight
Love is an ocean wide

Love is an ocean wide enough to forget

Even when we think we can't

The Journey of Beliefs, FM Static

FM Static

The Voyage Of Beliefs
(Featuring Tricia Brock)

I have 2 brothers and a sister, and a mother,

And a father who taught us that we should

All love one another,

We go to church on Sunday,

In a little green hyundai,

Have some grape juice and crackers,

Then we start again on Monday

[Bridge:]

And it's all fine, and it's all well,

I really want to find what I believe for myself,

'Cause when you're gone,

And I'm still here,

I won't have you to tell me that I should be there

[Refrain:]

I'm tired of making excuses(oh oh oh),

Need to decide for myself...

[Chorus:]

What if I stumble? What if I fall? When I'm on my way to You,

What if I need You? Who do I call?

How do I know I'll get through?

Because I don't wanna ride the fence anymore.

I wanna stand up, and shout it,

And let it be known

[Verse Two:]

I have 2 fathers, and a sister and a brother,

And a mother who taught us that we should

All do unto others,

My homeroom teacher, always talks about her preacher

And she says she talks to God,

But I don't know if I believe her

[Bridge:]

And it's all fine, and it's all well,

I really want to find what I believe for myself,

'Cause when you're gone,

And I'm still here,

I won't have you to tell me that I should be there

[Refrain:]

I'm tired of making excuses(oh oh oh),

Need to decide for myself...

[Chorus:]

What if I stumble? What if I fall?

When I'm on my way to You,

What if I need You? Who do I call?

How do I know I'll get through?

Because I don't wanna ride the fence anymore.

I wanna stand up, and shout it,

And let it be known

[Verse Three:]

And you can tell me,

That I can't make a difference 'cause I'm just one,

But one is all it takes to start it

And you can tell me, That I can't change the world,

Because I'm too young,

But I won't stand here and be your target

And you can push me,

And try to knock me down, but I won't listen,

'Cause I've got nothing left to lose and,

You can hate me, for everything I'm not,

But it won't change this,

'Cause now that I'm here, I'm not moving

[Refrain:]

I'm tired of making excuses(oh oh oh),

Need to decide for myself...

[Chorus:]

What if I stumble? What if I fall?

When I'm on my way to You,

What if I need You? Who do I call?

How do I know I'll get through?

Because I don't wanna ride the fence anymore.

I wanna stand up, and shout it,

And let it be known.

Hold My Heart (Tenth Avenue North)

This is the most amazing song in the world. It is my favorite ever. I'm not kidding. If you haven't heard it, google it or SOMETHING. It's...so amazing. Wow. It totally blows me away. The rest of the song lyrics I've posted up here are nothing compared to this. Wow. :D

How long must I pray,
must I pray to You?
How long must I wait,
must I wait for You?
How long 'til I see Your face,
see You shining through?

I'm on my knees, begging
You to notice me.
I'm on my knees,
Father will you turn to me?

One tear in the driving rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?

I've been so afraid,
afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye.
But if there's no other way,
I'm done asking why.

Cuz I'm on my knees,
begging You to turn to me
I'm on my knees,
Father will you run to me?

One tear in the driving rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?

So many questions without answers,
Your promises remain
I can't sleep but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name
To hear You call my name

One tear in the driving rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart?

Hold my heart,
could you hold my heart?
Hold my heart.

Yet another amazing song by Skillet

The Last Night, by Skillet:

You come to me with scars on your wrist

You tell me this will be the last night feeling like this

I just came to say goodbye

I didn't want you to see me cry,

I'm fine

But I know it's a lie.

[Chorus:]

This is the last night you'll spend alone

Look me in the eyes so I know you know

I'm everywhere you want me to be.

The last night you'll spend alone,

I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go,

I'm everything you need me to be.

Your parents say everything is your fault

But they don't know you like I know you they don't know you at all

I'm so sick of when they say

It's just a phase, you'll be o.k. you're fine

But I know it's a lie.

[Chorus]

This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look me in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be.
The last night you'll spend alone,
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go,
I'm everything you need me to be.

The last night away from me

[Bridge]

The night is so long when everything's wrong

If you give me your hand I will help you hold on

Tonight,

Tonight.

[Chorus]

This is the last night you'll spend alone

Look me in the eyes so I know you know

I'm everywhere you want me to be.

The last night you'll spend alone,

I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go,

I'm everything you need me to be.

I won't let you say goodbye,

I'll be your reason why.

The last night away from me,

Away from me.

The Motions (Matthew West)

This might hurt, it's not safe

But I know that I've gotta make a change

I don't care if I break,

At least I'll be feeling something

'Cause just okay is not enough

Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions

I don't wanna go one more day without

Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,"What if I had given everything,

instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time

I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind

Let Your love make me whole

I think I'm finally feeling something

'Cause just okay is not enough

Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions

I don't wanna go one more day

without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,"What if I had given everything,

instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)

take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)

take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)

take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

I don't wanna go one more day

without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,"What if I had given everything,

instead of going through the motions?"

I don't wanna go through the motions

I don't wanna go one more day

without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,"What if I had given everything,

instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)

take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)

take me all the way (through the motions)

take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

Hero, by Skillet

Note: JEN is the woman in Skillet who only sings in certain parts :D

I'm just a step away
I'm a just a breath away
Losin my faith today
JEN: fallin off the edge today
I am just a man not superhuman
JEN: I'm not superhuman
Someone save me from the hate
pre:
It's just another war
Just another family torn
JEN: falling from my faith today
Just a step from the edge
Just another day in the world we live
chorus:
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero
JEN: save me now
I need a hero to save my life
A hero'll save me
JEN: just in time
I gotta fight today to live another day
Speakin my mind today
JEN: my voice will be heard today
I've gotta make a stand but i am just a man
JEN: i'm not superhuman
My voice will be heard today
pre:
It's just another war
Just another family torn
JEN: my voice will be heard today
It's just another kill
The countdown begins to destroy ourselves
bridge:
Who's gonna fight for what's right
Who's gonna help us survive
We're in the fight of our lives
JEN: and we're not ready to die
Who's gonna fight for the weak
Who's gonna make 'em believe
I've got a hero
JEN: I've got a hero livin in me
I'm gonna fight for whats right
Today I'm speaking my mind
And if it kills me tonight
JEN: I will be ready to die
A hero's not afraid to give his life
A hero's gonna save me just in time

AMAZING SONG!

All Along, by Remedy Drive

Hey everybody...

Here is the lyrics to one of my favorite songs...

It’s not everything it seems - the world and its dreams
Slipping like water through my hands tonight
All the things I thought would fill me up inside
Left me empty here - and now I know why

All along I was looking for something else
You’re something else
All along I was looking for something more
You’re so much more
I finally found what I could never see before
You’ve always been the one that I was looking for

All of my castles in the sand - washed away again
And I’m left back where I began tonight
The only thing that can ever fill me up
Has been right in front of me all the time

All along I was looking for something else
You’re something else
All along I was looking for something more
You’re so much more
I finally found what I could never see before
You’ve always been the one that I was looking for

I won’t miss you - I won’t miss you this time
I say I want you - yeah I want you in my life

All along I was looking for something else
You’re something else
All along I was looking for something more
You’re so much more
I finally found what I could never see before
You’ve always been the one that I was looking for