Favorite Song(s)

I, like Casi, cannot sum it up in ONE song. But I've narrowed it down to two. And yes...I'm gonna post the lyrics. Plus, I want to share a portion of my testimony with you (for those of you who don't know it already). So, this will be a long one. Sorry...

"Brave" by Out of the Grey: This song takes me back to a place in my life where I was battling quite a few things (mainly addictions, but also just rebelliousness, in general), but was over the hill and on the mend. From age 16-18, I was involved with very bad people and in very bad relationships. It was a bad time in my life, to say the least. I lived in a very small town at the time, so my parents thought it would be best if I went away to a Christian rehab-type facility in TN where I could get away from those bad people that seemed to be EVERYWHERE in that small town. While I was at the rehab, I went through many ups and downs. In the beginning...mostly downs. But closer to the end of my stay there (actually only stayed a month and a half), and after extensive talks with my counselors, I began to overcome most of those obstacles and began to get better. I didn't want to go home because I was afraid; afraid of seeing those people again and them wondering why I'm not hanging out with them anymore; afraid of what the rest of my peers thought about why I was gone; afraid of slipping back into that pit of sin... I was afraid of MANY things. But I was constantly reminded of this song; Brave.

You're the perfect love You cast away my fear
No more shadows in the mirror
I go looking backI always see you there
Shining through my darkest hour

And you make me brave You make me strong
I'm not afraid You've been here all along
In my weakness, you're my strength
And my song, you make me brave

Lord, I know you go Before me on this road
Who could ever be against me? Every step
I takeI know I'm not alone
You're my courage for the journey

Living in the never knowing what's around the bend
Even though I know what happens in the very end
Gladly, I can face the ever-changing sky
And its coming clear that you're coming near
And it makes me brave

"Bring It On" by Steven Curtis Chapman: As I was nearing the end of my stay there, I became...almost fearless. The last week I was there, I remember telling all the counselors that I could handle whatever came my way. "Bring it on!" I was ready to go back home and face all of those fears that almost got the best of me. It was a time of triumph in my life. It was a great feeling, especially after being away from everything that was home...for so long. I can remember my mom sending me the lyrics to this song in the mail one day. I read them over and over again. After reading them for what seemed like a million times (and singing the song to myself), I posted them on the bottom of the bunk over me, so that I could see the lyrics everytime I laid down. It was my theme song for that last week I was there.

< Unfortunately, I did slip back into even more sin than before. But I finally came back to the light about 9 months later, after I had absolutely NO other choice. Ya know the old saying?..."When you've reached the lowest of lows, there's no where to go...but up." It's true!
FYI: I do not resent my parents for the choice that they made to "ship me away". I did, at the time, but I'm much wiser now, and know that they were only trying to save my life (in more ways than one). Even though I didn't come out of the sin right away, I'm sure that the rehab helped (in some way) to getting me back on track and bringing me around. These 2 years that I'm referring to, is a time frame that me and my family do NOT talk about. It hurt all of us. I felt the need to share it with you all since you are, after all, my young adults group. I feel comfortable enough with you now that I can share this. That's my testimony in a nutshell.> Here's the lyrics for the song:

I didn’t come lookin’ for trouble
And I don’t want to fight needlessly
But I’m not gonna hide in a bubble
If trouble comes for me
I can feel my heart beating faster
I can tell something’s coming down
But if it’s gonna make me grow stronger then…

Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let thethunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on Let the trouble come, let thehard rain fall, let it make me strong
Bring it on

Now, maybe you’re thinkin’ I’m crazy
And maybe I need to explain some things
‘Cause I know I’ve got an enemy waiting
Who wants to bring me pain
But what he never seems to remember
What he means for evil God works for good
So I will not retreat or surrender

Now, I don’t want to sound like some hero
‘Cause it’s God alone that my hope is in
But I’m not gonna run from the very things
That would drive me closer to Him
So bring it on

Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let thethunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on Let the trouble come, let it make me fall on the One who’s strong
Bring it on Let the lightning flash, let thethunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on Let me be made weak so I’ll knowthe strength of the One who’s strong
Bring it on
Bring it on