Song: Keep On Keepin' On
Written: 10-29-11 @11:41pm
---
Keep on keepin' on. 2x
Memories
Locked up tight
Deeply embedded in your mind's eye
So in this vision and in your dreams
Seize your hope and rise up with the eagles' wings
Look in the mirror
What do I see
A vague reflection of the ideal me
But to this truth, I will tightly cling
Tomorrow will be a better picture
Keep your eyes wide open
And don't you dare stop hoping
The sun will soon be showin his face
And you'll be covered in grace
As you rise with a brand new day
Life is romantic in its own little ways
Take the love as it comes with every twist and turn of fate
Love each other seize the day before it is too late
Carry on keep fightin strong till you rise to a higher place
Yeah Carry on keep keepin' on till you rise to a higher place
Look at our picture
And what do you see
A future snapshot of who we will be
You and me, I can tell we will be
Alive together
A reunited family
Keep your eyes wide open
And don't you dare stop hoping
The sun will soon be showin his face
And you'll be covered in grace
As you rise with a brand new day
Life is romantic in its own little ways
Take the love as it comes with every twist and turn of fate
Love each other seize the day before it is too late
Carry on keep fightin strong till you rise to a higher place
Yeah Carry on keep keepin' on till you rise to a higher place
Just by lookin around
It is easy to tell
Everything is beautiful in time
Very soon you'll see,
An even greater glory
So don't worry
Just put your trust in Me
Life is romantic in its own little ways
Take the love as it comes with every twist and turn of fate
Love each other seize the day before it is too late
Carry on keep fightin strong till you rise to a higher place
Oh and take the rain as it comes fallin down on your cold face
So carry on keep keepin' on till
Love come blow this place
Love's gonna blow this place
Yeah, Love is gonna blow this place!
Keep on keepin' on. 4x
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Move.
Sometimes, life is pretty painful. And difficult. And tearful. And disheartening. And just downright icky. But this fact has always been a given... while we are in the world, we will be subjected to ickiness. The real issue, however, is not that we must face ickiness, but that we must willfully choose how to respond to it.
Because when you're sitting in class thinking about how you dragged yourself out of bed, out the door and into school that morning after a 3-hour-or-less night's sleep on account of what felt like eternal homework and you feel like a wreck cause you've had a horrible day in general and all you want to do is just go to sleep and dream sweetly of marching band and Switchfoot and rainbows and subterranean parlors with comforting fire filling the hearth and radiating out towards the warm-colored upholstery that looks like it could have been salvaged from the Titanic den, yet you choose to make the effort to connect with your faith and move your behind into gear anyway... well, quite honestly, you might still feel pretty crummy, but you know that the choice you just made was a righteous one and it will be very rewarding in the end, so you become confident and take heart as you press forward and plough through the mucky circumstances which you face now and on towards the hopeful promise of a better tomorrow in utter faith. This perseverance and faith must be one of the most noble and beautiful forms of worship to ever take place. Worship is sacrifice: when you give your heart to God, and He gives His to you, you are sacrificing your personal needs and problems on the altar to come before Yahweh and receive from Him a spirit of unity and love that comes from faith in His character and His word - that is worship.
Because when you're sitting in class thinking about how you dragged yourself out of bed, out the door and into school that morning after a 3-hour-or-less night's sleep on account of what felt like eternal homework and you feel like a wreck cause you've had a horrible day in general and all you want to do is just go to sleep and dream sweetly of marching band and Switchfoot and rainbows and subterranean parlors with comforting fire filling the hearth and radiating out towards the warm-colored upholstery that looks like it could have been salvaged from the Titanic den, yet you choose to make the effort to connect with your faith and move your behind into gear anyway... well, quite honestly, you might still feel pretty crummy, but you know that the choice you just made was a righteous one and it will be very rewarding in the end, so you become confident and take heart as you press forward and plough through the mucky circumstances which you face now and on towards the hopeful promise of a better tomorrow in utter faith. This perseverance and faith must be one of the most noble and beautiful forms of worship to ever take place. Worship is sacrifice: when you give your heart to God, and He gives His to you, you are sacrificing your personal needs and problems on the altar to come before Yahweh and receive from Him a spirit of unity and love that comes from faith in His character and His word - that is worship.
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." (Psalm 69:9) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name.” (2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49)
I will sing hymns to your name.” (2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49)
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." (Deut. 32:43)
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples." (Psalm 117:1)
and sing praises to him, all you peoples." (Psalm 117:1)
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him." (Isaiah 11:10)
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him." (Isaiah 11:10)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 15:1-13
I'm thinkin' bout how to live
Even though what I did
Was not the best response to what's always going on (and)
I'm working out how to walk
Cause all I ever do is talk (and)
Step by step I'm movin' still inside my heart I'm groovin' (and)
Soon I will be movin' on, movin' movin' on and on and on.
("Moving On," 10/12/11).
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Good Night, and Good Luck.
The following video is a trailer for the 2005 film, Good Night, and Good Luck. We watched this movie in one of my classes recently: very powerful and inspiring; utterly brilliant and beautiful. Rather than write about all the wonderful words spoken (and sung) in this film, I decided to simply post some of Ed Murrow's speeches, for I probably couldn't put them into words of my own even if I wanted to or tried. I highly recommend seeing the whole movie in context after viewing these clips. Enjoy.
And with that said, I'll let Mr. Murrow do the talking.
I wouldn't change a word.
And with that said, I'll let Mr. Murrow do the talking.
(These two clips are from the same speech. The latter picks up approximately where the former leaves off. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one video containing the whole speech on YouTube.)
(This one is from Ed Murrow's original 1958 See It Now speech.)
I wouldn't change a word.
Goodnight, and Good Luck.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Proof that Inspiration > Self-Preservation.
I am defying every sense of reason present within me in writing this. However, whatever the result may be, I have been known to choose inspiration over self-preservation. This is a good thing in healthy measures, but for those who know be very well, I tend to take things to extremes. Again, there is nothing wrong with extremes... it's an extreme life we're living and an extreme world we live in... but when one voluntarily denies themselves much-needed sleep the night preceeding five days of seven-and-a-half-hour band camp sessions in the grueling 105 degree heat, just when sleep is most crucial to their well-being, it becomes unhealthy.
I like to sleep and rest, and I love to dream, but I don't like going to sleep. There's just too much going on in life, I wish I could salvage every moment of the night and put it to some good use rather than sleeping - unfortunately the human body was not designed for this and it would be most unwise to force it to comply. Therefore, I shall wrap up this rant and get on with things. I need sleep.
The following poetry is a result of random thoughts which led to random inspiration. A reflection of some pretty heavy subjects that have been on my mind recently... I guess this is my brain's way of trying to figure them out. And if the foreignese at the end turns out to say something I didn't mean to say, or something I would never say... Sorry, Latin isn't exactly my forte. Though I'm learning.
This naughty owl is going to bed now so she doesn't die tomorrow. G'night friends! Hope you somewhat enjoy this.
----------
It's the end of the industrial age
Coming out of the iron metal city
Into the grassy-hilled vicinity
Leaving the skyscrapers behind
Moving into tents outside the county lines
Speaking truth to lying lips, embarrassing the systematic flush
Breaking up the arguments, disquieting the problematic hush
We were like stallions in the desert
Burning, yearning, thirsting, learning, love;
Now we live in blanket forts
Bearing blazing torches in our hands
Watchmen watching in the hills
Camping in the countryside
In our God we still confide;
Forever shall it be
Life is HisStory.
---
E Pluribus Unum
Populus Sanctus Dei
Sumus Una In Aeternum
Sumus Qui Numquam Dedo
Vox qui sono morietur numquam
Omni mundo est in manibus Deo
Nunquam poteritis in futurum relinquerent nos
Gloria, Imperium, Honorem, tenei solo Deo.
Nemo pote infringo Populus Infragilis.
Deo amor est supremum.
In aeternum ac Amen.
Shalom/Peace out,
-Rayla.
I like to sleep and rest, and I love to dream, but I don't like going to sleep. There's just too much going on in life, I wish I could salvage every moment of the night and put it to some good use rather than sleeping - unfortunately the human body was not designed for this and it would be most unwise to force it to comply. Therefore, I shall wrap up this rant and get on with things. I need sleep.
The following poetry is a result of random thoughts which led to random inspiration. A reflection of some pretty heavy subjects that have been on my mind recently... I guess this is my brain's way of trying to figure them out. And if the foreignese at the end turns out to say something I didn't mean to say, or something I would never say... Sorry, Latin isn't exactly my forte. Though I'm learning.
This naughty owl is going to bed now so she doesn't die tomorrow. G'night friends! Hope you somewhat enjoy this.
----------
It's the end of the industrial age
Coming out of the iron metal city
Into the grassy-hilled vicinity
Leaving the skyscrapers behind
Moving into tents outside the county lines
Speaking truth to lying lips, embarrassing the systematic flush
Breaking up the arguments, disquieting the problematic hush
We were like stallions in the desert
Burning, yearning, thirsting, learning, love;
Now we live in blanket forts
Bearing blazing torches in our hands
Watchmen watching in the hills
Camping in the countryside
In our God we still confide;
Forever shall it be
Life is HisStory.
---
E Pluribus Unum
Populus Sanctus Dei
Sumus Una In Aeternum
Sumus Qui Numquam Dedo
Vox qui sono morietur numquam
Omni mundo est in manibus Deo
Nunquam poteritis in futurum relinquerent nos
Gloria, Imperium, Honorem, tenei solo Deo.
Nemo pote infringo Populus Infragilis.
Deo amor est supremum.
In aeternum ac Amen.
Shalom/Peace out,
-Rayla.
Bright Blue Beauty
From June 23, 2011.
--------------------------------------
Dear God,
You are so beautiful. SO. Like, unspeakably so. A single short encounter with your beauty and your glory like this leaves me absolutely positively speechless. I feel there are not words adequate enough to accurately describe you and all your wonders! You are amazing. You take my breath away. You make my heart beat faster. You captivate me with the power of your love. I don't know if I could withstand a full glimpse at the riches of your glory and splendor - it would probably overcome me. I may end up passed out on the floor for who knows how long. Therefore, I make the prayer of Jabez my own:
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." -1 Chronicles 4:10
I have a blue blimp feeling,
That it's coming fast
I see the blue lights forming,
So prepare for impact
I see the feathers floating
Down an airy staircase
Who says heaven can't materialize
In the fullness of an empty room
Somewhere out there
Outside these tinted windows
There is in the baby blue sky
An angelic balloon
What it is or how it got there
I don't know yet
But I am feeling a new rhythm playing out
So I'll choose to sing along
I hear the sonic songs of a jet plane
Inside a starry diagram
I hear the music flying closer and closer
The power of incensed noise
It seems I'm at the star gate of aeronautics themselves
The very start of a blue-light special at K-Mart
--------------------------------------
Finally, four white sails sailing swiftly 'cross Caribbean seas
Our ship is coming in, Our ship is coming in,
It's just within the harbor
As I'm watching from the iron horse off shore,
The picture is crystal clear through the TV
So I intently gaze as the window glass breaks
and the wind comes in and takes me away
Into the sparkling sky
I am lost
In the undying blue
Where I am ever closer,
Ever coming nearer to You.
Que Dios te bendiga/God bless,
-Rayla
--------------------------------------
Dear God,
You are so beautiful. SO. Like, unspeakably so. A single short encounter with your beauty and your glory like this leaves me absolutely positively speechless. I feel there are not words adequate enough to accurately describe you and all your wonders! You are amazing. You take my breath away. You make my heart beat faster. You captivate me with the power of your love. I don't know if I could withstand a full glimpse at the riches of your glory and splendor - it would probably overcome me. I may end up passed out on the floor for who knows how long. Therefore, I make the prayer of Jabez my own:
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." -1 Chronicles 4:10
I have a blue blimp feeling,
That it's coming fast
I see the blue lights forming,
So prepare for impact
I see the feathers floating
Down an airy staircase
Who says heaven can't materialize
In the fullness of an empty room
Somewhere out there
Outside these tinted windows
There is in the baby blue sky
An angelic balloon
What it is or how it got there
I don't know yet
But I am feeling a new rhythm playing out
So I'll choose to sing along
I hear the sonic songs of a jet plane
Inside a starry diagram
I hear the music flying closer and closer
The power of incensed noise
It seems I'm at the star gate of aeronautics themselves
The very start of a blue-light special at K-Mart
--------------------------------------
Finally, four white sails sailing swiftly 'cross Caribbean seas
Our ship is coming in, Our ship is coming in,
It's just within the harbor
As I'm watching from the iron horse off shore,
The picture is crystal clear through the TV
So I intently gaze as the window glass breaks
and the wind comes in and takes me away
Into the sparkling sky
I am lost
In the undying blue
Where I am ever closer,
Ever coming nearer to You.
Que Dios te bendiga/God bless,
-Rayla
Sunday, July 17, 2011
"Jesus Provides Rayla With Cough Drops"
When Jesus landed and saw a family with a coughing Rayla, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, Rayla's mom said, “Our medicine cabinet is a very coughdropless place, and it’s already getting late. Go to bed Rayla, so you can finish looking for some cough drops and then get some rest.” Jesus replied, “She does not need to go to bed yet. You give her some cough drops.” “We have here only two lemon Halls and one cherry Ludens,” the family answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to gather at the foot of the stairs. Taking the two lemon Halls and the one cherry Ludens and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and unwrapped the cough drops. Then he put them in Rayla's mom's purse, and Rayla's mom fished through her purse and pulled them out to give them to Rayla. Rayla had the perfect amount of cough drops to get through the night, and Rayla's mom ended up pulling three bonus cherry Halls out of her purse. The number of total cough drops supplied were about six, besides the two Rayla had previously found.
~Matthew 14:14-21... kind of.
True story.
~Matthew 14:14-21... kind of.
True story.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Keep Moving Forward.
I just gotta focus. Just throw all distractions, all hindrances, all annoying little voices mockingly whispering in my ear, "That's stupid. You can't do that. I don't approve. That's too crazy. It'll never work. Shut up. You're stupid. You can't do anything. You're insane. You have a mental disorder. You live in your own little world, you're crazy. That's a horrible idea. You're too emotional. No one cares. You can't do anything about it. You don't contribute to society. You're not worth anything. You never do anything. You don't even matter here. No one cares about you. Look, you're all alone. No one agrees with you. So just shut up. Everyone hates you." in the stinking rotten "bad egg chute" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where they belong, and press forward. Don't look back. And never, ever, EVER, give up. NEVER GIVE UP. Don't relent. Focus. Eyes locked on the prize. Pursue it. Pursue truth. Pursue love. Pursue hope. Pursue grace. And most of all, pursue God. Pursue the prize, the prize for which we are living. That's right, we. You are not alone. And the rest of those professed loners, outcasts, and wanderers out there, perhaps feeling especially alone tonight just like I was earlier in the day, aren't either. This is what I'm living for. This is why I'm looking straight ahead, however desperate or weak my gaze may be, and pressing forward. Cause it's all I can see right now. That's all I'm focusing on, right here, right now. A lot of things may be unclear, but don't think about that; Just, KEEP MOVING FORWARD!
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Naturally, the ultimate prize which I am pursuing is Jesus Christ my Lord: the Love of my life and the One who keeps me going day in and day out. He is doubtlessly my prize in the long run, this completely true. But here and now, I'm referring to a more short-term sort of prize: a moment. But not just any moment. The moment.
The moment when I, clenching the hand of my traveling companion - fellow vagabond and dearest friend - arrive at the greenest, grassiest hill either of us have seen in a long time. The moment when all our teary, tired eyes can see is sunlight in its glorious warmth washing over the crest of that soft, grassy mount, a surreal and brilliant sight. The moment when our tattered hearts melt as we realize that the smoke, the ash, the rubble and the chaos of battles and bomb raids and a disaster-stricken industrial city are all behind us. The moment when we stumble up that hill, clothes torn to rags and faces smeared with grime and streaked with tears, and see the light. Not just the light - the light. The moment when we see the unquenchable torch of fire blazing atop the mount, a sign of vitality. The moment when our eyes finally gaze upon the colorful, sparkling tent made of quilts and blankets that look as if they belong in angels' laps, with an intensely bright-glowing flame burning triumphantly upon the corner of that fabric rainbow, as if to say, "Welcome home!" The moment when we catch sight of the people - the people! - crouching inside their fort amongst various provisions, and when they really, actually, look back. That moment when we collapse on the ground in gut-wrenching sobs, wailing with enlightened hearts, "We are not alone!!"
That is the moment I am living for right now. And I am most certain that in reality, there are many things I don't see or understand yet and that this moment is not the only one of its type which I am pressing on towards at this time in my life. But it's the most clear (and attractive) one, for now. So I am determined to focus and punch that goal into my mind like a GPS coordinate and follow the highlighted path until I arrive at my destination. (Ever notice how that world sounds like "destiny" and "nation" put together? Keep driving until you reach your destinynation.) I expect that there very well may be some construction along the way, or perhaps the occasional inclement weather conditions here and there, and that I will probably have to take a few detours and make a fair amount of navigational adjustments before the trip is over. I'm ready. And I may not be sure exactly what it all will look like or how everything will happen on this journey, but of this I am certain: that I have a bright future ahead of me, because God promised, and God never goes back on his word. He is forever faithful, and he gives me hope.
In all honesty, for me, this verse has always been one of those "famous verses" - a verse that is widely known and liked, etc. - and until now, I have never known the entire context of this verse, only the one "famous" part. So as I biblegateway.com-ed this verse to copy-paste it into the post, I figured I'd take a look at it. I did.
IT'S COOL.
Yeah, for the most part, the rest of Jeremiah 29 is pretty much the idea I just blogged about in bible form. And don't get me wrong, I'm not taking any credit for anything, ever... Complete and total no, nothing, zilch, nada. Anyway, I'm pretty sure God has dibs on copyright, considering He wrote Jeremiah 29 way before I even existed and He's kind of the God of the universe, so... yeah. But the point is, if anyone ever reads this post and finds the topic relative to their own life, I recommend reading Jeremiah 29, 'cause God really spoke to me through it regarding this subject.
Well, I'm exhausted. It's 1AM, and that's way past my bedtime. Sing me a lullaby?
(Just kidding. Irene by TobyMac is playing through my mind right now.)
Whoa, I just leaned forward a few inches, and this bright light outside the window caught my eye. The full moon. Very pretty. It's usually not in that position, shining through the smooth semicircle pane set at the summit of my alpine bedroom window, when I fall asleep. This is a definite sign that I really need to drift off to dreamland right about now.
Sweet dreams!
Much Love,
Rayla.
(Thank you, Google, for the pictures.)
Naturally, the ultimate prize which I am pursuing is Jesus Christ my Lord: the Love of my life and the One who keeps me going day in and day out. He is doubtlessly my prize in the long run, this completely true. But here and now, I'm referring to a more short-term sort of prize: a moment. But not just any moment. The moment.
The moment when I, clenching the hand of my traveling companion - fellow vagabond and dearest friend - arrive at the greenest, grassiest hill either of us have seen in a long time. The moment when all our teary, tired eyes can see is sunlight in its glorious warmth washing over the crest of that soft, grassy mount, a surreal and brilliant sight. The moment when our tattered hearts melt as we realize that the smoke, the ash, the rubble and the chaos of battles and bomb raids and a disaster-stricken industrial city are all behind us. The moment when we stumble up that hill, clothes torn to rags and faces smeared with grime and streaked with tears, and see the light. Not just the light - the light. The moment when we see the unquenchable torch of fire blazing atop the mount, a sign of vitality. The moment when our eyes finally gaze upon the colorful, sparkling tent made of quilts and blankets that look as if they belong in angels' laps, with an intensely bright-glowing flame burning triumphantly upon the corner of that fabric rainbow, as if to say, "Welcome home!" The moment when we catch sight of the people - the people! - crouching inside their fort amongst various provisions, and when they really, actually, look back. That moment when we collapse on the ground in gut-wrenching sobs, wailing with enlightened hearts, "We are not alone!!"
That is the moment I am living for right now. And I am most certain that in reality, there are many things I don't see or understand yet and that this moment is not the only one of its type which I am pressing on towards at this time in my life. But it's the most clear (and attractive) one, for now. So I am determined to focus and punch that goal into my mind like a GPS coordinate and follow the highlighted path until I arrive at my destination. (Ever notice how that world sounds like "destiny" and "nation" put together? Keep driving until you reach your destinynation.) I expect that there very well may be some construction along the way, or perhaps the occasional inclement weather conditions here and there, and that I will probably have to take a few detours and make a fair amount of navigational adjustments before the trip is over. I'm ready. And I may not be sure exactly what it all will look like or how everything will happen on this journey, but of this I am certain: that I have a bright future ahead of me, because God promised, and God never goes back on his word. He is forever faithful, and he gives me hope.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
In all honesty, for me, this verse has always been one of those "famous verses" - a verse that is widely known and liked, etc. - and until now, I have never known the entire context of this verse, only the one "famous" part. So as I biblegateway.com-ed this verse to copy-paste it into the post, I figured I'd take a look at it. I did.
IT'S COOL.
Yeah, for the most part, the rest of Jeremiah 29 is pretty much the idea I just blogged about in bible form. And don't get me wrong, I'm not taking any credit for anything, ever... Complete and total no, nothing, zilch, nada. Anyway, I'm pretty sure God has dibs on copyright, considering He wrote Jeremiah 29 way before I even existed and He's kind of the God of the universe, so... yeah. But the point is, if anyone ever reads this post and finds the topic relative to their own life, I recommend reading Jeremiah 29, 'cause God really spoke to me through it regarding this subject.
Well, I'm exhausted. It's 1AM, and that's way past my bedtime. Sing me a lullaby?
(Just kidding. Irene by TobyMac is playing through my mind right now.)
Whoa, I just leaned forward a few inches, and this bright light outside the window caught my eye. The full moon. Very pretty. It's usually not in that position, shining through the smooth semicircle pane set at the summit of my alpine bedroom window, when I fall asleep. This is a definite sign that I really need to drift off to dreamland right about now.
Sweet dreams!
Much Love,
Rayla.
(Thank you, Google, for the pictures.)
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