any other way.

don't say goodbye, 
don't say hello.
we're just standing on the surface.
don't say alright, 
don't say i know.
I promise it's not worth it.

I want to know who you are,
even if you're falling apart.
reach in and touch your scars
and all the shame you've kept in your heart.

‘cause it's not enough,
it's not enough 
just to say that we're okay.
I need your hurt, 
I need your pain.
it's not love any other way.

let's not pretend.
stop your parade.
trying to convince me
that you're alright 
and everything's okay.
do you even know Me?

‘cause I already know who you are
and all the things that kept us apart.
so reach in and touch my scars
and know the price I paid for your heart.


that it's not enough,

it's not enough 

just to say that you're okay.
well I need your hurt, 

I need your pain.
it's not love any other way.

a broken and contrite heart 
I will not despise.
come as you are 
and I won't close my eyes.
I won't close my eyes.
I won't close my eye.
I won't close my eyes.


'cause it's not enough,

it's not enough 

just to say that you're okay.
well I need your hurt, 

I need your pain.
it's not love any other way.

'cause it's not enough,
it's not enough 
just to say that you're okay.
well, you needed My hurt
you needed My pain
it's not love any other way.
it's not love any other way.
yeah, it's not love any other way.

"even in relationships with each other, if you don’t understand the hurt and pain that someone is going through, it’s really not a love relationship. this is a call of God saying to us "I need your pain and I need your hurt" and allowing us to express that to God and not just to mask it. we’re allowed to question and we’re allowed to get mad and say, "i’m really hurt right now and this is what i’m going through." when someone can then love in return, then that’s when it’s true love."
[jason from tenth avenue north]

all the pretty things.

we are, we are, 
we're caught in the in-between.
of who we already are 
and who we are yet to be.
and we're looking for love 
but finding we're still in need
it's only what we have lost 
will we be allowed to keep.

and we're waiting, 
but our eyes are wandering
to all this earth holds dear.

look at all the pretty things
that steal my heart away.
i can feel i'm fading.
‘cause Lord i love so many things
that keep me from Your face.
come and save me.

we run, we run 
to finally be set free.
but we're fighting for what 
we already have received.


so we're waiting, 

but our eyes are wandering
to all this earth holds dear.

look at all the pretty things
that steal my heart away.
i can feel i'm fading.
‘cause Lord i love so many things
that keep me from Your face.
come and save me.

we are, we are, 

we're caught in the in-between.

but we're fighting for what 

we already have received.

we are, we are, 

we're caught in the in-between.

but we're fighting for what 

we already have received.

look at all the pretty things
that steal my heart away.
i can feel i'm fading.
‘cause Lord i love so many things
that keep me from Your face.
come and save me.

the truth is who you are.

it would be easier 
if You were just a thought in my head.
simply something that i once read.
a belief needing my defense.

and it would be easier 
if you were something i once knew.
a hope just to hold on to.
but You're holding out Your hands.

'cause You came to take us back to the start.
You came to touch the hardness of our hearts.
You gave us truth 
that truth is who You are,
it's who You are.

and it’s not enough 
to just say, "i believe."
‘cause truth is that talk is cheap.
so grace, give me eyes to see


that You came to take us back to the start.
You came to touch the hardness of our hearts.
You gave us truth 
that truth is who You are,
it's who You are.
it's who You are.

flesh and blood You offer us.
oh, to eat the bread and drink the cup.
oh, to taste, to see, to feel, to touch.
Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel, God with us.

‘cause You came to break the chains apart.
to wake the dead and sleeping of our hearts.
You gave us truth, 
that truth is who You are.
it's who You are.

"it’s just the idea that Jesus is really what sustains us. Jesus is the truth we’re searching for. so unless we run to Him first, all our knowledge and all the stuff we learn about Him is just sort of puffing ourselves up. i think it’s such a freeing thing when people can realize that Jesus isn’t something that you read about in a book, but He’s actually a person and He wants to have a relationship with you and walk with you through these dark times."
[jason from tenth avenue north]

you are more.

there's a girl in the corner 
with tear stains on her eyes
from the places she's wandered 
and the shame she can't hide.
she says, 
"how did i get here? 
i'm not who i once was.
and i'm crippled by the fear 
that i've fallen too far to love."

but don't you know who you are,
what has been done for you?
don't you know who you are?

you are more than the choices that you've made.
you are more than the sum of your past mistakes.
you are more than the problems you create.
you've been remade.

well she tries to believe it, 
that she's been given new life.
but she can't shake the feeling 
that it’s not true tonight.
she knows all the answers 
and she's rehearsed all the lines,
so she'll try to do better 
but then she's too weak to try


but don't you know who you are?

you are more than the choices that you've made.
you are more than the sum of your past mistakes.
you are more than the problems you create.
you've been remade.


you are more than the choices that you've made.
you are more than the sum of your past mistakes.
you are more than the problems you create.
you've been remade.

‘cause this is not about what you've done,
but what's been done for you.
this is not about where you've been,
but where your brokenness brings you to.
this is not about what you feel 
but what He felt to forgive you
and what He felt to make you new


you are more than the choices that you've made.
you are more than the sum of your past mistakes.
you are more than the problems you create.
you've been remade.


you are more than the choices that you've made.
you are more than the sum of your past mistakes.
you are more than the problems you create.
you've been remade.


you've been remade.
you've been remade.
you've been remade.
you've been remade.

"you can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. and you can't go and make good choices for God until you understand the Gospel that says the choices you make don't make you who you are. what Christ has done for you makes you who you are."
[mike from tenth avenue north] 

strong enough to save.

you fought but you were just too weak
so you lost all the things you tried to keep
now you're on your kneesyou’re on your knees

but wait everything can change
in a moments' time
you don't have to be afraid
‘cause fear is just a lie
open up your eyes

and He'll break open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the one the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you

look now is not too late
lift up your head
let the rain fall on your face
you’re not far from grace
you’re not too far from grace


and He'll break open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the one the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you


break open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the one the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you

i know the weight of this world can take you down like gravity
i know the current of yourself can take you out, out to sea
but hold on
hold on


and He'll break open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the one the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you


break open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the one the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you

healing begins.

so you thought you had to keep this up
all the work that you do
so we think that you're good
and you can't believe it's not enough
all the walls you built up
are just glass on the outside

so let 'em fall down
there's freedom waiting in the sound
when you let your walls fall to the ground
we're here now

this is where the healing begins, oh
this is where the healing starts
when you come to where you're broken within
the light meets the dark
the light meets the dark

afraid to let your secrets out
everything that you hide
can come crashing through the door now
but too scared to face all your fear
so you hide but you find
that the shame won't disappear

so let it fall down
there's freedom waiting in the sound
when you let your walls fall to the ground
we're here now
we're here now, oh

this is where the healing begins, oh
this is where the healing starts
when you come to where you're broken within
the light meets the dark
the light meets the dark

sparks will fly as grace collides
with the dark inside of us
so please don't fight
this coming light
let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

this is where the healing begins, oh
this is where the healing starts
when you come to where you're broken within
the light meets the dark
the light meets the dark

"this is a call to let your walls fall down, let your masks fall down, let your pretense fall down, because guess what? your walls are glass anyway. we can see through them. you are fighting a losing battle and this is where the healing begins, when you let the light expose the darkness."

[mike from tenth avenue north]

the light meets the dark.

i'm starting another series. well.....sort of. i just recently got the new tenth avenue north cd and it is so wonderful. beautiful truth combined with beautiful lyrics.

SO, each day i'll post the lyrics of one of the songs and a video.

you can hear each of the songs here.

i hope you all can learn as much from these songs as i have.

love, meg.

those who are in my heart.

these are my very best friends.
i miss them all so much while i'm at school.
i miss how ryan can make me laugh harder than anyone.
i don't miss martin, because he goes to my school. but i absolutely love going to school with him and i am so blessed to always have him.
i miss the way katie completely understands me, and loves me for that.
i miss the conversations that i have with billy. about real, beautiful, hard, life things.
i miss andrew's heart and how sweet he is to everyone.
i miss the wisdom that shelby imparts from being so deeply rooted in the Father.
i miss seeing jim and learning what true loyalty looks like from him.
i miss andrew's sarcasm and how he knows exactly what i'm talking about in so few words.
these guys are my favorites.
i can't wait until we're all together again.

for only you.

MOUCHE.

THE SUN IS HOT.

LYING FACE.

I MISS THE SOUND YOU MAKE WHEN I BLUSH AND STARE AT THE GROUND.

--------------------------

happy valentine's day, babe :)

emily dickinson.

hope is the thing with feathers 
that perches in the soul, 
and sings the tune--without the words, 
and never stops at all.

beauty is more than in the eyes of the beholder.

| Artists Wanted | In Focus : Pete Eckert from Artists Wanted on Vimeo.

jimmy needham - not without love benediction.

i tried, Lord.
i tried, Lord.
i tried hard to be Your good little boy
chin up, head high
all zeal and no joy
thinking all my good deeds could please Jesus.
boy, was i wrong.


though i knew the right songs, 
all my cymbals and gongs played the melodies wrong.
and it wasn’t long till i saw my disease,
a life spent wanting to please
on hands and knees
to make right, to appease.


God help me, please!
this can’t be christianity!
it can’t be!
the whole thing’s like insanity!
where’s the rest of eternal security?
where’s the hope of a God big enough 
to cope with all my hang-ups and insecurities?


certainly, this isn’t breathing.
my chest burning and heaving.
it’s like my pulse is ceasing,
like my heart quits beating!


yet this i recall to mind,
and therefore, i have hope:
You died, Lord,
You died, Lord.


assuredly, like the coming of the dawn, 
the Father’s love song goes on.
drowning out my bitter songs
and breaking through walls and barriers,
Christ swoops in, removes sin, 
picks up His bride and carries her. 


so i can sing in agreement with the King this thing:
there’s only one thing that pleases the Father,
the God-man on the tree in the midst of the scoffers.
now i finally see that Christ is what Christ offers.
and i’m finally free in the love of the Father.

lots of rain.

take this song...

and then add this song...

and what do you get??

the mashup for my tap dance for recital this year. 
so great :)

ps: no, your life will never be the same after experiencing those videos. but definitely for different purposes. i'm not sure if i should say, "you're welcome." probably not ;)

tumblr love.

[the majority of these are from inspiredbythisfeeling.tumblr.com. it's a current obsession of mine. kind of literally. check it out.]

it's a new day. oh baby, it's a new day.

this is the beginning of a new day.

you have been given this day to do as you will.

you can waste it or use it for good. 

what you do today is important 

because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.

when tomorrow comes,

this day will be gone forever;

it it's place is something that you have left behind...

...let it be something good.