Jesus Wants The Rose- Matt Chandler

My family loves Matt Chandler. He is an excellent pastor who tries his best in doing what God wants him to do. Senior pastor of The Village Church; he has an amazing faith in God despite everything he's been through. He's been a huge inspiration to everyone who has kept up with him or just heard of him.

This is a clip of one of his past sermons that he did a while ago- I really encourage you to watch it!

More- Matthew West

I'm working to get my next post up soon. . .hopefully, very soon. . .so please stick around! =)

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Take a look at the mountains
Stretching a mile high
Take a look at the ocean
Far as your eye can see
And think of Me

Take a look at the desert
Do you feel like a grain of sand?
I am with you wherever
Where you go is where I am

And I'm always thinking of you
Take a look around you
I'm spelling it out one by one

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

Just a face in the city
Just a tear on a crowded street
But you are one in a million
And you belong to Me

And I want you to know
That I'm not letting go
Even when you come undone

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

Shine for Me
Shine for Me
Shine on, shine on
Shine for Me

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

(Chorus)
Than the sun
and the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you, yesterday and today
Through the joy and the pain
I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

And I see you
And I made you
And I love you more than you can imagine
More than you can fathom
I love you more than the sun
And you shine for me

Before The Morning- Josh Wilson

Here are the lyrics to another song that I thought was pretty inspirational when you're feeling down, it's called "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless.

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Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think its more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining



I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do



It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do



Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can!



I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

"Live Like We're Dying"- Kris Allen

"Healing Hand of God"- Jeremy Camp

I love this song and have found so much comfort in the words!

The Chrismas Shoes

Last night me and my family watched "The Christmas Shoes". We were all in tears (and it takes alot to get us ALL in tears!)! It's a very good movie taken after the song by Newsong. I recommend it, not just at Christmas time, but also just during the year to constantly remind us of what really matters!

It's A Wonderful Life!!

I just wanted to post something to get all of your spirits up and ready for CHRISTmas!! Enjoy. . .

I've always loved this song but especially now it has alot of meaning!

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Grown-up christmas list


Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.

Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow. (can you still help somehow)
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.

So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,(and wars would never start)
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.(wrapped beneath the tree)

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.
(there'd be)

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end, oh.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

This is my grown-up christmas list.

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Something to Think About Christmas

I put this video up last year, but thought it was a good reminder for us this year as well!

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How are you spending your Christmas? Are you thinking about and serving others. . . or are you thinking about about the things you're going to do and hope to get?

Watch this! Then think again!



Remember, CHRIST IS Christmas!

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Cardboard Testimony

It really is so neat what God can do in the lives of so many people. And when you hear their stories. . . it can sometimes be overwhelming to the point of where you can't help but know that we're serving on AWESOME God that can truly change the worst of lives!

This video was taken at a church and I thought it speaks for so many different people from all over the world who are going through (or who have gone through) these same things. . .

Please, take the time to watch it!

"Joshua Harris is Eaten by a Beanbag"

Watch out for sin! It looks so innocent and comfortable. . .




Don't let the beanbag get you!

"From The Inside Out" and "Mighty to Save" - Hillsong

Let the cry of our heart be to give all praise and glory to a God who is mighty enough to save someone like us!!

"Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again." Vance Hanover

The Motions

Sometimes life has a way of becoming too routine. You know what I mean, when you feel that life is like cardboard--flat, unexciting, brown, junky, and you throw it out when it's wet. Is it just because we're going through the motions in life? For instance, Christians, when you read the Bible- do you feel like you're really getting something out of it? Like you're connecting and can really talk to God? Or is it more of a read-and-forget type of "routine"?

Going through the motions of life and Christianity gets you nowhere, I can assure you! For a while I was going to church, reading my 'daily Bible', singing Christian songs, hanging with Christian friends, and everything else you can imagine until my dad asked me how I was doing? Then I stopped and thought about it. How was I doing? Then it hit me! Me! The one who was never supposed to go through it was going through the motions. And I felt empty.

Let me ask you, how are you really feeling right now? Do you feel filled? Or empty? Like you're really worshiping God in church or not (like your absent)?

So since I came to that realization that I was not worshiping God with my full self, I had to change it--and prayer helps so much! Pray for yourself and ask people to pray for you whether or not you tell them the reason(s).

Also (I'm very musical so songs tend to influence me alot!) this song helped me so much. . . Please, take the time to watch it!

"A More Beautiful You" - Jonny Diaz

This song has alot to say to girls! Girls have such a distorted perception of beauty because that is what's offered to us by the world. As you'll see in this video, it's the computer that does all the work! I feel sorry for the girls today who think they have to look like models in order to be accepted or to "catch a guy". Jesus loves them just the way they are, were, and will ever be! Any Christian guy who loves Jesus, will truly love you too!

I would also like to add that if your not being "accepted" by friends and you're working really hard to fit in, that they really aren't your friends and you should try to look for ones that will stick with you through the thick and thin and be godly role models for you. Even if that means having your grandparents, parents, siblings, or older and wiser girls or guys be your best friends. It might take time but trust me, in the end it will pay off tremendously!

My mom had done this really good article of the Generation Diva that's going on today. This article is more geared towards mothers but there's alot of wisdom tips that we can pick up as well. Please take the time to read it.



More Beautiful You Lyrics

The Numbers Don't Lie!

Isn't this cool? Prayer is so powerful!

Lead Me to The Cross- Hillsong

I first heard this song sung at church by a friend and have been wanting to get it ever since! The words are so good!

(NOTE--This version is a little graphic for it's all scenes from "The Passion of Christ" by Mel Gibson. So if you haven't seen that movie yet and you're not sure about watching this version of the song or if you have younger siblings with you that you don't want to watch, here's another version of this same song on our other blog that's just a picture slideshow--"Lead Me to The Cross".)

Other than that. . . Enjoy!

New Vlogging Series!

Me and some of my siblings are starting "Vlogs" to encourage kids and teens our ages to change the world through the Word! This is my first one. . . Let me know what you think!

Here's the Book List I had mentioned in the video.

(I think me and my sister need to work more on our communication!) =)

My Piano Recital

This past Saturday I had a piano recital and I played a song from Bach- "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring".

I think it was kind of an adventure learning this song because I picked out the song about two to three weeks ago and the studio I go to wanted it memorized for this recital. So I started practicing this three page song (and I have a little trouble reading left hand music notes so that added on to the pressure!) and hammered it within two days of the recital! They had given me the option of playing a one and a half page song that I almost was going to do but my parents both knew I could do more than that so they encouraged me to really try to do this song and now you see the results!

Me and my piano teacher, Shelly Mahoney.

Me by a good looking piano!

"Do Hard Things" Tour

I'm excited about the Do Hard Things Tour (http://www.therebelution.com/conference) a one-day Christian teen conference that's coming to - Chicago, IL :: July 11! Me and my parents are attending and would love to have you join us. (They are also coming to - Louisville, KY :: June 20, - Orange County, CA :: July 25, - Birmingham, AL :: August 29, - Washington, D.C. :: Sept 19!)

Visit their website, watch the promo video, listen to the session previews and let us know what you think. The Rebelution is defined as "a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture." Both parents and teens need to hear this message!

Enthusiastically,
Janai

P.S. Alex and Brett Harris (20-year-old twins who are speaking at the conference) have written a book called Do Hard Things. Check it out: http://www.dohardthings.com

"Pendragon: Sword of His Father"

I just saw this great, adventurous movie called "Pendragon: Sword of His Father". It's a Christian movie set to the medieval times. It's a story of a boy's father who has a vision to drive out the Saxons from their land but then dies. So then his son (Artos) tries carrying out the vision his father had but gets discouraged so many times by a man named Cadeyrn. You have to watch it to learn the rest. . .

To see the trailer click on the link...

Pendragon: Sword of His Father

Cadeyrn is the enemy in this movie that tries to gain power and victory by conquering Artos.

Wenneveria was my favorite character!

Wennevaria's father.

Artos is the main character.

"Praise You in This Storm"- Casting Crowns

Some people are having a hard time getting on with life right now. So I just wanted to show this video so that you can be encouraged and even if things are not exactly affecting you, it's still a good reminder to praise God because of all the things he's done! Just the fact that you're alive and even able to read this post should bring you to praise Him! There are going to be hard times but we just need to trust that "all things work together for the good of those who love him" and that "he has a plan for us, a future to bring us hope and not evil". I hope you'll be encouraged. . .