Music Monday - 20100719

In a way, this entry probably should have preceded my Music Monday from last Thursday, but this song is a wonderful compliment to that post.  As God is leading me through a "growing season" my finite selfish mind leads me to believe that God has forsaken me instead of actually helping me along the path He has for me.  

I want to say that God has forsaken me during these times of "trial", but the truth is i will NEVER be left alone like Christ experienced on the cross ~ suffering the wrath i deserved.  But because He did allow Himself to be suspended in my place, i can know that "[He] will never leave [me] nor forsake[me]" (Hebrews 13:5).  Words cannot adequately express how wonderful that promise is to me.

Never Alone
Barlow Girl

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?

[Chorus:]
I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I"m never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life

We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

[Chorus]

We cannot separate
You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

[Chorus]

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Music Monday - 20100517

I am pretty sure i have used this song on my Music Monday offerings before, but it keeps coming back to me.  Especially during times when i feel so incredibly inadequate of what God is doing in my life.  And the wonder of it all is i am.  I am undeserving, i am unworthy of my God's mercy and forgiveness.  And yet, there He is.  He goes to the cross when He could have called down legions of angels, who i am sure were chomping at the bit, anxious to be released.  And He should have been, but for me (and you).  If He comes down from the cross before my debt is paid in full i am not redeemed but lost, but because He has done these things i am saved.  How can one not cry out in praise to the King?

God with us
Mercy Me

Who are we
that You would be mindful of us
what do You see
that’s worth looking our way
we are free in ways that we never should be
sweet release from the grip of these chains
like hinges straining from the weight
my heart can no longer keep from singing

CHORUS
All that is within me cries
for You alone be glorified
Emmanuel
God with us
my heart sings a brand new song
the debt is paid these chains are gone
Emmanuel
God with us

Lord you know
our hearts don’t deserve Your glory
still You show
a love we cannot afford
like hinges straining from the weight
my heart can no longer keep from singing

CHORUS

Such a tiny offering
Compared to calvary
Nevertheless we lay it at Your feet

CHORUS

While i know there is nothing in and of myself that is worthy of praise or any of God's attention save His righteous wrath, i am a son of the King.  I am one with Christ.  Creation does not sing to me, but i get to sing with it, in unbriddled joy.

So many times i feel like Moses, but with not as big a mandate.  (Exodus 3) Who am i to be used by God?  And yet, God does use Moses, and He uses you and me... and we can sing with joy and boast in the Savior.  He not only uses us where we are, but His grace covers our inadequecies, and when we are we weak He is strong, and He receives the glory and honor.

Music Monday - 20080818

I didn't have a song in mind when I dragged my tired body out of bed this morning. My blog entry was the last thing on my mind as I didn't get to sleep until after midnight, woke up around 4:30 and didn't get back to sleep until after 5:00, and then - totally by God's grace - I woke up at 6:00 right on the button. Both of my alarms were muted, so if God has not woke me up I would probably still be asleep. ;-) What really prompted this song to strike me so was the fact that when I woke up at 4:30 it was because of a dream that I had. Even now that dream is fading from my memory, but I remember it really disturbed me. I do know it was along the lines of things of my past catching up with me.

You Reign Mercy Me Even before there was a drop in the ocean Even before there was a star in the sky Even before the world was put in motion You were on Your throne You were on Your throne You reign Glory in the highest You reign Let creation testify By Your name Every knee will bow And every tongue proclaim That Jesus Reigns Even before Your hand made the heavens Even before the breath of all mankind Even before we had to be forgiven You were on Your throne You were on Your throne Chorus Yesterday, today and forever You are God who was, and is and is to come Written by MercyMe and Steven Curtis Chapman © 2007 Simpleville Music / Wet As A Fish Music / ASCAP (admin. by Simpleville Music, Inc.) Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI (administration by EMI-CMG Publishing) All rights reserved.

This song actually followed along with a theme that God has been using in my life lately. That is my works have no direct impact on my life. Sure, things like when I pay a bill late I am charged a late fee, or if I open a door for some one who is disabled I will feel better about myself - but it does not determine, not just my standing before God but, my standing within society as a whole. It is God who places favor in my life, it is He who has provided my career and job placement. Even when I am not a good steward it is His hand who sustains me, and that no matter what state I find myself (but especially while I am experiencing prosperity) I need to acknowledge and praise Him. What an awesome God i serve. I am filled with wonder and amazement. I am dumbfounded that He would select me, reach down and touch me, reach down and bless me. That He cares for me. There was nothing good... there was nothing that would draw me out from the crowd. I am no one, or anything, special, and yet He has chosen to reach down and speak to my mind and my heart. Praise be to God in the highest. \o/ Verse for today: Philippians 2 : 5-11, ESV Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [1] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, [2] being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Musical Monday

Ok, I know it's Tuesday... and last week I put this up on Tuesday... but, better late than never. This week I have an excuse (last week I was just lazy). I've started taking the Monday's after drill weekends off. It's just nice to have that break in between. Long ago I remember having to go weeks in between days off... and it wears on you. Especially us old people.

One thing I did try and do over the weekend was to go to an Irish pub to try and catch some live Irish music. Wouldn't you know that they had a duet singing classic rock songs! :P I was a little disappointed.

On to my song for this week...

Word of God Speak by Mercy Me

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[Chorus]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[Chorus 2x]

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

I find songs that draw attention to what I might call a 'silent awe', or introspection, really speak to my soul. There was a Petra song (the title escapes me right now) that was really good in this regard as well.

I don't mean this in a self-beating-down kind of way either. There are just times when I think it is good to reflect and meditate on who God is, and who we are in relation to Him. And then, when I think about all that He has done, it just fills me with wonder and awe.


Oh, a quick P.S. - I managed to sell off some old bags that I had laying around, so when I told my beloved about the new bag I was able to hand her the cash to offset the expense. :-) I really chuckled at the comments by Susan and Lisa. Thank you for that encouragement ladies. :-)
Verse for today:
1 Kings 19:11-12, ESV
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. [1]

Musical Monday - a day late

My appologies for not having kept up with the very thing I am trying to start! Musical Mondays! No good excuse, just poor explinations... but I am here today, to pick up where I left off, even if it's a day late this week.

I listen to music all the time. Pretty much whenever I get the chance, but I still struggle with what I want to share on Mondays. This morning, just as I was getting to work the song I've chossen for today came on. I almost sat and listened to it, but I was already running a little late. My song for today is by Mercy Me, titled "Bring the Rain".

I can count a million times

People asking me how I

Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed

Long before these rainy days

It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord

My only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of

The dark clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me

By suffering Your destiny

So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Holy, holy, holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

How many times have I prayed for God to reveal His glory through me? Or asked for Him to do His work in me? When I first came to KNOW him, when I confessed that I am a sinner and asked for Him to come live in me, accepting His substitution for my payment, did I not say that I trust Him ultimately? But how often have I held back? How often have I feared what He might do? I trust Him with my soul, but not my flesh?!?

The book of Job has been a long time favorite, and I know - at least intellectually - that God is ultimately trust worthy. This song really speaks to me about how truly trustable God is, and that even in the midst of the storms of life, God is there. He is there to not only calm the waves and wind, but He controls them as well. In the opening chapters of Job is shown that the enemy can only move so far. In Romans His word shows that He uses ALL things for our ultimate good.

This song really moves me, and it reminds me that if God were to bring a storm (even more than a light 'sprinkle') that I can trust Him, that I can stand in the midst of the raging wind and water, and look to the heavens and rejoice. Our time on this earth is incredibly short in the light of eternity...

Verse for today:
Revelation 21:5-8, ESVAnd he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Jesus bring the rain

Not long ago I heard a new song. At least it was new to me... right now I am not sure how old it was. But the Lord has really been using it in my life. It's titled "Bring the Rain", and it's by Mercy Me. The chorus goes like this:

Bring me joy, bring me peace Bring the chance to be free Bring me anything that brings You glory And I know there'll be days When this life brings me pain But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain

And that has really been a desire of mine, but there are times when I struggle with this. Do I really want to go through hardships to being Him glory? What if God wanted me to lose my job? What about a serious illness? The book of Job has long been a favorite of mine. It is my favorite book in the Bible, and yet... to be honest... I don't want to have to go through that. I struggle in my flesh to really let myself go... to die to myself... daily. This Saturday I was called into work and ended up pulling an all nighter. There were times I was physically ill by what was going on. In the end it was resolved, and withing the customer's maintenance window. I did remember to give thanks in answer to my prayers that I was lifting up. As I slipped inbetween the sheets at o'dark thirty, just as the sun was beginning to crest the horizon, this song came to my mind once again. I remember chuckling to myself and smiling. Verse for today: Job 42:2-6, ESV “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent [1] in dust and ashes.”