Time Taken From the Heart

Hello Readers

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It comes to that time of the year for me, where I start to get very exited for one of the biggest events on the baptist youth culture. And that is Easter Camp. Easter Camp is run by the Baptist Youth Ministry. 

This will be my third year going. The Weekend consists of worship, studies, games, sports, TopTeam (were all the youthgroups compete) and many other activities. 

In short: we spend five days on a camp ground, sleeping (or trying to) in tents, and trying to eat the camp food. (fun times...)

I could spend a long time talking about how it all works. So it is only 24 days away! As I said, this is my third year. And I have no idea how it is going to turn out. 

So many people say it's going to be amazing. But I think, the amazing side of anything comes down to where you put your heart and attitude.

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I will openly admit right now that I was too miserable my last two years. And I am very upset with myself for that. So I made a list of things to do better this year.

Music Memories | The Ember Days

There is something beautiful about songs bring back memories. Both good ones and bad ones. A song will remind us of something that happened years ago. And that memory will come right back to us. 

It was early 2013. My first year at Central Baptist youth Group. Me and my friend Diana had planned a day, where we were going to go to a Girls Brigade event, then on to The Ember Days concert that night with our youth group. 

Yes I know, I was a Girls Brigade girl. I am no longer. I did it for about a year or so with my younger sisters. Though I didn't go to Diana's company. I meet her at her company when I was testing it out. And then I found out that she went to CB, and boom, we have been friends ever since. 

So we went to the Girls Brigade event. There was not very many of us Pioneers there. Only a selection I had never met before. Among those was a girl who is now my closest of friends. I can not believe its been over two years since I have met some of the most amazing people in my life. Those people I see as God given. That goes to show that God knows what is happening with your future. And gives you the people to help you make it through. People that will never leave you, know matter what. 

That night we attended The Ember Days concert. I hate to say this, but it was a bit boring. So I sat with Diana and just listened to their music playing in the background. And the song that I never forget it Awake. It's such a beautiful song. It's so deep. And I am sad to say, I did not understand the song. I did not get any of the music, any of the messages. I was 14 and a bit stupid. 

I love all the worship songs out there. I love all the ones from Hillsong, and Jesus Culture, and all the others. But this one is one of the most beautiful lyrics. So simple, but so full of hope. 

Bring me back again

Let me see again

Oh you lay down for us

We are yours forever

   

Clothed in righteousness

You gave nothing less

Grace keeping me whole

Love making me free

Your the fire inside

That makes me come alive

I love how we see Christ as fire, clothed in righteousness. Setting us free from our iniquity.

Awake my heart

Awake Awake my soul 

Revive me Lord

Come and make me whole

Awake my soul

Bring me back again

Hope that never ends

Giving all for us

You have our devotion

Taste and see your love

Coming from above

Oh Great one that redeems

I fall at Your feet

I need you my God

I need you to breathe

Come now Lord Jesus awaken my soul to sing

So there are the lyrics for you. I think what I like about it the most is the reveling of the beauty of what Jesus did for us. And it think a lot of us fail at seeing the beauty of being in Gods family. So that is my story. 

The song that brings back memories. The song that brings me back/

Thank for reading my music rant. 

Check out The Ember Days at their WEBSITE, YOUTUBE 

New Year Resolutions/Acknowledgments

Hello Readers. It has been about three month since I started blogging. And it is now the end of 2014. So I am going to do my New Years Resolutions. Brett Michael Orr and Adriana Gabrielle did this, and I think a couple of others. So I wanted to jump on the boat and do a list too.

So First I would like to make a couple of acknowledgments. 

First i would like to thank the friends that have stood by me over this year: Hayley, Diana, MJ, Ellie, Lachie, Vicky, for being supportive and standing by me, even though I've gotten angry, and over the top emotional, etc. Just thanks for being there. (And for dealing with me)

I would also like to give a HUGE shout out to my amazing Mother. Thank you Mum for being there through my entire life. To being such a great friend. And listening to my ramblings about how my story works, and how I see things. Love you!

Shout out to my Youth Group at CB. For being the bubbly exiting and entertaining bunch. And for being a great community of teens for me to spend my Friday nights with. Also we cant forget the Youth-Pastor Kate! And all the great times spending time with you and the Barker girls before youth, and letting me have an inside view of how the church runs.

And last but not least: All the super awesome teens over at GoTeenWriters. Without you guys in the Facebook group; I would still know nothing about writing. I have learned so much. And Its been great to be in a community of writers on the same journey as me. (Plus my NaNoWriMo writing buddies. You guys are awesome.)

New Years Resolutions 

Revise Clandestine, Re-draft it, and polish it up for (maybe) publication 

I am so close to finishing writing my first-ever-novel. I'm currently at 60,000 words and counting. And hoping to get that finished in early January. I'm planning on jumping straight into revising/editing. Since I will have about two months till I start with my studies (Need to take that time)
I really want to have this piece of work published some-day. And I'm hoping that I get it at least reader worthy this year.


Create a reading list 

Yes lady's and gents: There are many book I want to read in the new year. And I am going to make a long list. (I will make a post early next year with that list)
There is so much out there. And I need to read them!!!


Get a Job

Yeah. Sadly I'm getting old, and it turns out you have to work if you want to live (I know right) I'm hoping I can get a job in: re-tale, or waitressing, or if I'm luck: In the library (Please!)


Get my Drivers Licences

I've got a car, but no drivers licence. Not even my learners! (I'm getting it guys.) But my goal is to have that full licence by the end of this year. (I need it)


Camp NaNoWriMo 

I am planning on attending Both of the camps, and do NaNoWriMo again in November. Go Me! And everyone else that plans on doing it again in 2015 :)


Become better at the Piano 

I taught myself how to play. I'm not the best. But I can do it. I can play: John Legends All of Me, Taylor Swift Safe and Sound, Down-Ton-Abby Theme song, Beethoven Fur Elise, and a couple of other randoms.


Work to become a better writer 

I am so new. When I started, I had no idea what I was doing. But like always, I surprise myself. But even now, I'm in need of so much work with the way I format my work. So I'm going to work on getting better over this year.


Do Good in my Studies 

I'm going to work to my fullest ability in my studies. I'm going to work, and get good grades with everything I do. And I'm going to enjoy it. (Go Graphic Design)


I'm going to enjoy myself 

I'm really good a being boring. So this coming year, I want to break out of my comfort zone and have some fun. I want to break free, and just be me in-front of people. (This is going to be the harder one)


Extend my Faith beyond measure

I want to be a better Christian. Though I know no one can be that. But I want to put more trust in Christ than I had in the previous year. I want remember why I got baptized.


That that is it. (There must be more, cause there always is with me) But thanks for reading. And let me know what your goals are. Or you could do a post like this (I will find it, and read it,)

Happy New year

-Rachel

Youth Group Inspired Dance with Me

Its coming to the end of the year. I'm getting this weird feeling of freedom now! So I am in this deep thinking process of both of my novels. But mostly on Dance with Me.
Writing Dance with Me is kind of giving me the opportunity to think over my year. To think over the struggles, and the good things.

As I have said; I go to a christian youth group each Friday night. This is a great way to catch up with my church friends, play games, do bible studies and small groups.
I am still, even now getting use to it. Even though this will be my, I think second year of attending. I am learning to give myself the chance; not only to be a better person, but to get to know people, build friendships, even if they are just small acquaintance ones. I don't want to look back on my teen years and see a big pile of regret, and things I never did.

The song by One Republic: I Lived, Makes me think very much of that. And I know that I have ditched 3 perfectly good years of being a teenager, but there are still more to come.

Me and my friend Mary Jane, get the opportunity to help set up, due to us getting there early.
So today we got to set the tables (again) and felt the need to make sure all the cups were aligned.
I love this shot I took! Even though it was just on my tablet!

Back to the title of this blog post! (I need to stay on track) 

Dance with Me is inspired by many events. Ones from my Mothers youth group, ones from my own, ones from others, or simply ones that I have made up myself! 

Youth Group is not everyone's thing. I have friends that just don't want to go. I know people that go to my youth now, that refused to be budged from there home! It comes in many cases. Mine was; I wanted to go so bad! 

But its the later for Lacy. She doesn't want to go. Lacy is that seemingly stubborn character. And just wont do it. (But she does! Of course she does)

And I think, we all have had one experience or another where we don't want to go to something. And there will be that person behind you crying "just do it!"

Stay tuned for more on Dance with Me, and more on Clandestine. So really what I mean, is just keep reading my ramblings! 

I will be posting a snippet or two on Clandestine, in my next post! 

-Rachel