Forever & Always (by Taylor Swift Rewritten)

[Verse 1]

It's been a long time... I remember that day you came into my life

You filled me with something

I held on to the night, but you wrapped me in your arms and told me you loved me

You weren't kidding 

'Cause it seems to me my heart is stronger now

You made me joy complete

I'm not a stranger anymore

Jesus, what happened, please tell me

'Cause one second I was worthless, now I'm 

Welcome in your home

[Chorus]

And I stare at the sky wonderin' why you called me

When I was so low, didn't mean nothing at all

And I flash back to when you said "forever and always"

And when it rains in my bedroom and 

Everything goes wrong

I can see through the tears 'cause I know you're not gone

I was there when you said "forever and always"

[Verse 2]

I was out of line

But you saw through the wreckage  of my sad life

You took me in your arms

You spoke into my life

And I knew in that minute all was not as before

So here's to every sin that all came down to nothing

Here's to your grace that cuts me to the core

And now I'm learning I owed you in that minute

Debts of love, not mine before

[Chorus]

And I stare at the sky wonderin' why you called me

When I was so low, didn't mean nothing at all

And I flash back to when you said "forever and always"

And when it rains in my bedroom and 

Everything goes wrong

I can see through the tears 'cause you're there all along

I was there when you said "forever and always"

And I know you're with me when I don't feel hope...

[Bridge]

Back up, lemme back up

There must be something I missed

Back up, wait a minute

I can't believe what you did

[Chorus]

And when it rains in my bedroom and 

Everything goes wrong

I can see through the tears 'cause you're there all along

I was there when you said "forever and always"

And I stare at the sky wonderin' why you called me

When I was so low, didn't mean nothing at all

And I flash back to when you said "forever and always"

[Chorus]

Now when it rains in my bedroom and 

Everything's gone wrong

I can see through the tears 'cause you're there all along

I was there when you claimed me forever and always

And your love surrounds me... Forever and always

____________________

When Christ saved me, he wrapped me in His arms for all eternity, and no one and nothing can take me away. Even if I lose everything, I will be no less loved. 

Psalm 16:8, Psalm 73:25-26, 

"I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand." John 10:28 (CEB) 

Dread

Dread
This feeling I know so well
Burning like fire and tasting like Hell
Never giving its victims peace
It teases and mocks till they cry for release
Looming like a cloud over everything
Rain without growth and sun without spring
It chases them down, doesn't let them hide
Like a morbid best friend always at their side
Light is like dark and day is like night
Even the stars shine a little less bright
A burden weighing them down and crushing the bones
Like pain in your chest that won't leave you alone
This is war

What can stop it from doing its worst?
What can quench the fire and the thirst?
It's been too long in the desert of pain
We look for growth, but there's only rain
Who will lift the cloud and let me hide?
Bolt all the doors till I'm safe inside?
Or chase it away for good till it's gone
So I'm not afraid to walk the streets alone?
Who can give light to the dark and chase away the night
And make the stars once again shine bright
Take away this burden that's bringing me low
And ease the pain that gnaws at my soul?

You Haven't Given Up On Me

We were hearing a sermon yesterday by Ben Stewart (I think his name was), the campus pastor at A&M. He was talking about Peter's denial of Jesus and how even Peter seemed to give up on himself afterwards. He went back to fishing. And then Jesus is on the shore making a fire with breakfast cooked and calling out to him and the other disciples. 

When Peter comes to shore, Jesus asks him "Do you love me?" Each time Peter says "Lord, you know that I love you." And Jesus says, "Feed my sheep."

The pastor was saying how he used to think Jesus was being mean, almost sort of opening the wound back up of the denial, but then he saw how Jesus wasn't saying, "Peter, do you love me? Then why did you deny me? How could you mess up in such a HUGE way after you told me yourself that you would never deny me?" Instead he was saying, "Peter do you love me? Then let's go from here together and make disciples. Let's move on. My love is strong enough and my heart is big enough to accept you even after you turned your back on me. Let's move on, Peter." 

He wasn't pointing him back to the past, but to the future. 

He was saying that his sins were forgiven. And he did this 3 times so that Peter would get it, even though I'm sure it blew Peter's mind that Jesus could ever forgive him.

I think God is trying to show me how faithful His love is. And he's showing me in different places multiple times so that it sinks in. Just like Peter, I need to be reminded that there is a future for me in God's Kingdom and I can go forth with him walking beside me. I don't have to wallow in my sin and give up on myself because Jesus hasn't given up on me. 

________________________________________________________________________________

John 21:15-25

The Book of Hosea

Faithful

Why am I always the one left out? People that I love move on... and I try, but then the people I begin to love end up moving on again with not even room for friendship. It's a terrible cycle of endings without closure and jealousy without repose.

Maybe I have the wrong idea of "moving on." Maybe moving on doesn't mean moving from one person to the other trying to find love... because in my experience, the results are always disappointing. I end up putting too much hope in one person, set them against a standard that they cannot hold to, and they end up letting me down.

But, I keep wondering, is commitment a standard that is so unattainable?


Lord let me fall in love with you all over again. Never once did I ever walk alone, never once did you leave me on my own because you are faithful, God, you are FAITHFUL. And in You, I find healing.

Invisible

I often lie on my bed wishing this wasn't true.

This person who stole your heart seems to have replaced it for you.

There was a time when all that's happened would have been unthinkable,

But finally the truth is plain for all to see: I am now invisible.